A Letter to My Lineage

By Noel Alberto, FINDink Contributor

My last lineage picture during my undergrad years at UMBC. It’s hard to believe that there are still so many people missing. Picture features (Renmar, AJ, Kaitlyn, Charlette, Debbie, Tiff, and Dinita) 😊

Growing up, I was the eldest of two sons. To be quite honest, it took time for my brother and me to build a solid relationship, which is where we’re at now. I guess it started when he asked me for some advice about school. I told him, “Join your school’s Filipino Club, you’ll make friends easily and you won’t regret it.” After a year at Seton Hall with FLASH, it’s definitely something he does not regret.

Despite our differences, which are quite a lot, there are still plenty of things we can both get along about such as WWE, NBA2K, McDonald’s vanilla cones, chicken nuggets, and much more. Trust me, I love my little brother, no one can replace him, but when I went to school and joined my Filipino Club, FASA, I felt I was still looking for something.

Since I was the oldest of two boys, I never had someone older to look up to or even younger sisters (unless you count my four younger first cousins, by the way if you girls are reading this, no boyfriends).

So when I joined FASA, I joined the Ate-Kuya-Ading program. In my first semester, I was lucky enough to get an Ate and a Kuya accompanied by my loving grands. From then on, I always made sure to give the rest of my lineage the same love that I was given. So get ready for more sappy, cheesy stuff from your Grand Ading, Ading, Kuya, Grand Kuya, Great-Grand Kuya, co, or whatever you call me because you’ve all made such an impact on me, and thank you for always making sure that “FASA is Family.” (Note to my co-adings, adings and those “below me”, read until the end 😉)

To my Grand Ates: Gretchen, you’ve been someone I’ve looked up to knowing your impact in the Fil-Am community and in D6. You were co-chair, and you do so much for the community, but you’re even more inspiring for sharing your story on how you ran a half-marathon with juvenile dermatomyositis. I know you’ll keep on doing great things in the world.

And to Jahziel, thanks for always believing in me when dancing. I may not have been at the best at your hardcore whacking pieces for Semi, but it’s nice to see the support you give even while I struggle.

To Ate and Kuya: You two are where it all began. Kuya Ben, you tried reaching out to me early, and not answering is a regret. While I may not have gotten to know you too well over the years, I’m proud to see you have grown and kept the tradition going in our D6 lineage. I know you’ll do great things in grad school in the future.

Ate Czarmaine, just like with Kuya Ben, I wish I had answered those text messages about going out when our lineage first became official. You are always so loving and giving me advice about PT School (by the way congrats on getting in 😊 ). But just like with Kuya Ben’s tradition, I’m proud to say I’ve kept yours going too. My freshman year you surprisingly got me a Christmas gift just to give something to your ading. While I did get to give you gifts for your three years here, you weren’t here last year since you graduated so all my adings (and more) received some gifts as well.

Wishing you the best of luck in PT school Ate 😊

Ate Arren. I know you wanted to adopt me for some reason, and I forgot the reason why, but yea you’re my Ate. It was a pleasure being D6 Reps with you for FASA last year and teaching you all the ropes to the job. You’re just so fun, loving, and easy to talk to. Just one more semester Ate, you can do it!

To My Adings (this is where it gets long):

Tomas/AJ/Mang Tomas, whatever you want me to call you: It was an odd way on how you became my ading. The ading I was given was the same year as me, and the Kuya you were given didn’t even go to school here. So we found a solution, adopting you as my ading. Though it was alright to start, it was nice seeing you more and more throughout my years here as you got more involved in FASA. You finally became an E-Board member this year and chose me as the person you look up to in FASA (*cries internally*). Please, please keep up the amazing graphic design work, and all I ask is to please design a red FASA shirt so I can finish the collection.

Charlette/Madame President: I hate picking favorites, but I’m not lying when I say you’re my favorite ading. Why you may ask? You were my first “real” ading. I mean did I personally pick you? Yes, but still my first ading. I knew from the night you came to my apartment for pancit night that you were going to have a big impact in this organization. You were so entrenched in the culture that you helped immensely with Pistahan your freshman year and then became an E-Board member and a director your next year. Now you’re President. The growth I’ve seen from you, from the quiet girl at pancit night is immense, and while I may not always see you, you know Kuya is always there to support you and be your number one fan. P.S: Don’t worry, I won’t pinch your cheeks anymore since you’re always wearing makeup hehe.

NYC Adventures during my last year on E-Board.

Kaitlyn/The Other Madame President: For as long as I’ve known you Kaitlyn, FASA is something I would not shut up about to you. Eventually, my persistence paid off and you joined your sophomore year to play Turkeybowl for us. Our times in Club Tennis were the best especially when you nagged me to do things you didn’t wanna do as your Vice President. It touched my heart when I got a shoutout from you in your Q&A last year during speeches when you ran for D6 Rep. Anyways, it’s your first year without me in club, but I can already tell you’re keeping things well under control. I can’t wait to see you and the rest of the team in action, and hopefully, I can travel with you guys and use you as sports photography practice.❤️😊

The Kuki to my Wally, The Numbah 3 to my Numbah 4. 😊

Allysa/Volleyball Queen: I remember how you found out I was your Kuya, you walked out of a meeting and asked why you didn’t get an e-mail to find your Ate or Kuya during a scavenger hunt. Well to your surprise, it was me. Through Semi, FASA Kash, and the other times we’ve gotten to go out, you’ve been so fun loving and sweet. I hope I get to see more of your smiling face this year!

Clinton/Rave King: When so many people signed up to be adings in the spring semester, E-Board asked who wanted to take on an ading. Of course, they looked to me because I had so many so I obliged. I was excited to have you in the lineage and see the family grow once more. Although we didn’t get to hang much, I’m super glad you helped out Pistahan and are continuing to get involved in FASA. I only ask of you is to ditch the blonde K-Pop hair look hehe.

Joe/Kung Fu Tea Master: Being the Filipino master of VSA, I’m surprised you never joined FASA you Pinoy boy. Anyways, we knew each other for awhile but didn’t really hang out until last year, and you called me Kuya which I guess makes you my ading lol. You obviously complained when everyone else got Christmas presents, but I delivered to you the Holy Grail of Christmas Gifts… Free Iron Age. Thanks for always having that Filipino hospitality and warmth whenever I see you at Kung Fu Tea, your house, or anywhere else. Kill that chem game homie. Just one year to go.

To My Co-Adings:

Bea/Forever Dance Partner/Forever D6 Rep: Like I said, I hate picking favorites, but if there is a favorite person I have in this lineage, it’s you Bea. Despite us being on equal terms in our lineage, you looked up to me as the Kuya always. A relationship that all started with you trying to say hi and I was having none of it. I’m glad I took the chance to get to know you though. It’s hard to pick out a standout moment from our time together, but it definitely has to be our adventure as D6 Reps. We both came in knowing nothing to very little about the job but when it was all said and done, knowing nothing ignited us to find a passion about D6 and FASA. From your nervous moments as a freshman in Pistahan to where you are now, you’ve definitely grown ten-fold. I’m still “mad” you pulled a fast one on me at the Cracker Barrel, but I’ll get you back for that one. Always remember I’m your forever dance partner, D6 Rep, and Dream Team partner and that we’re #CoAdingGoals ❤️😊

This is honestly my favorite picture ever. Taken post-2016 D6 Transition Meeting at the Naval Academy.

Maianh/The Best Friend: Technically since Ate Arren is our Ate, I guess that mean’s your my co-ading lol. Anyways, thanks for everything and please don’t change your funny, weird self. I think my favorite part of you though is my harsh criticism of me whenever I take pictures of you and you don’t think your cute enough, but you’re more than cute enough. Good luck on those dental school apps and kill it this year as IVP of VSA. 😊

Tell me why this describes our friendship...LOL

To My Grand Adings

Team Baby-Faced Assassin strikes again feat. Renmar and Debbie

Renmar/The Baby-Faced Assassin: It made sense why you fit in the lineage so well, because barring Tomas, we all have baby faces lol. Anyways, you obliged I come to visit so you can use your coupons, and here I am in Maryland and no coupons have been used yet. You’ve grown quite a lot since I first met you, becoming more vocal and now an E-Board member. Keep them organized secretary!

Debbie/Ukulele Extraordinaire: You never let me forget the first time we met each other, which I won’t mention in here, but it was quite memorable. After you were a member of the lineage, you became a popular figure on my Tune Tuesdays. You underestimate your ukulele skills because you say you’re not good or good enough to teach me which is absolutely wrong. It melted my heart when I first saw you and you said you missed me calling you “grand”. Don’t worry, I’ll be around grand, I won’t be a stranger!

Tiff/The Little Bundle of Joy: Being Charlette’s newest ading, I sadly did not get time to talk to you a lot Tiff. Whenever I see you though, you’re always so happy and smiling. I hope this year, I can have more time to hang out with you and get to know you more since you are in this wonderful lineage!

And Lastly My Great-Grand Ading

Dinita/Co: We met each other when we were Allysa’s littles in VSA, but thanks to Debbie, your Ate, I had a great-grand ading, which made feel so old. Anyways, it took us awhile for us to start hanging out but we did. It was surprising to me that there were so many places around campus you hadn’t eaten at so I was the one to take you. You’re going to do fantastic things as historian this year Dinita, just keep your positive thinking and don’t get overwhelmed!

My co/great-grand ading is the cutest ❤️

And one last note to my cos, adings, grand-adings, and great-grand adings, don’t forget to use those Christmas coupons 😊.

Love,

Noel